Huskers Earn Runner-Up Finish at Ohio State

Brodie Cunningham, Evan McDermott and Hamish Murray all earned top-20 individual finishes to help the Nebraska men's golf team to a season-best second-place finish at the Robert Kepler Invitational in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday.

The Huskers finished with a three-round total of 884 (+34), eight strokes behind the hosts from Ohio State, who closed at 876 (+26) on the par-71, 7,455-yard layout of the Scarlet Course. The Buckeyes trailed Nebraska by three strokes heading into Saturday's final round. It was Nebraska's fifth top-three finish and seventh top-five tournament showing of the season.

Cunningham, a freshman from Glasgow, Scotland, put together Nebraska's top individual finish with his tie for 14th at 222 (+9), including a final-round 77 (+6). Cunningham, who notched his fifth top-25 finish of the season, helped the Huskers to the top of the team leader board through 36 holes with rounds of 73 and 72 on Friday.

Redshirt sophomore Evan McDermott added his fourth top-25 performance of the season by tying for 17th at 223 (+10). McDermottt posted Nebraska's second-best round on Saturday with a 73 (+2), after opening with rounds of 73 and 77 on Friday.

Hamish Murray tied for 20th at 225 (+12) despite a final-round 78. The senior from Sydney, Australia, carded Nebraska's best second-round score with a 69 (-2) to help the Huskers to a one-shot lead over Kansas City heading into Saturday's third round. It was Murray's eighth top-25 finish of the year.

Reed Malleck continued his consistent play by tying for 33rd at 228 (+15), including a final-round 77. The graduate student from York, Neb., opened with a 77, before adding a second-round 74 Friday.

Sophomore Rudy Sautron produced Nebraska's best individual round of the tournament with his 68 (-3) on Saturday. Sautron would have been NU's leader through 36 holes after shooting a second-round 69 (-3), but the score was eliminated by a technicality following the round.

It also erased a potential history-making fourth hole in Friday's second round, which featured Sautron, Cunningham and Murray recording back-to-back-to-back eagles on the 585-yard, par-5 hole. 

Jackson Benge rounded out Nebraska's contingent in Ohio by tying for 50th at 232 (+19), including a final-round 75 (+4).

Nebraska will be back in action at the Big Ten Championships at the Baltimore Country Club in Maryland (April 25-27).

Robert Kepler Invitational
April 17-18, 2025
The Ohio State University Golf Club
Scarlet Course (Par 71, 7,455 Yards)

Final Team Results
1. Ohio State - 296-296-284=876 (+24)
2. Nebraska - 297-292-295=884 (+32)
3. Kent State - 295-300--292=887 (+35)
4. Kansas City - 291-299-301=891 (+39)
5. Cal Poly - 305-290-297=892 (+40)
6. Eastern Michigan - 297-296-300=893 (+41)
7. Minnesota - 300-300-302=902 (+50)
8. St. John's - 302-306-303=911 (+59)
9. Colorado State - 313-301-298=912 (+60)
10. St. Thomas (Minn.) - 303-305-306=914 (+62)
11. Creighton - 304-312-305=921 (+69)
12. Omaha - 311-309-304=924 (+72)
13. Tarleton State - 298-313-316=927 (+75)

Final Individual Results
1. Baron Szeto, Cal Poly - 72-67-69=208 (-5)
*2. Topher Reed, Ohio State - 73-71-70=214 (+1)
3. Peicheng Chen, St. John's - 69-71-75=215 (+2)
4. Timotej Formanek, Ohio State - 73-70-73=216 (+3)
T5. Bavake Sihote, Eastern Michigan - 70-75-72=217 (+4)
T5. Jordan Gilkison, Kent State - 71-75-71=217 (+4)
T5. Grant Feldman, Creighton - 72-75-70=217 (+4)
8. Vaughn Harber, Ohio State - 74-72-72=218 (+5)
9. Mason Haley, Kansas City - 71-72-76=219 (+6)
T10. Joshuaa Robards, Kansas City - 71-76-73=220 (+7)
T10. Isaiah Ibit, Kent State - 73-76-71=220 (+7) 

Nebraska Individual
T14. Brodie Cunningham - 73-72-77=222 (+9)
T17. Evan McDermott - 73-77-73=223 (+10)
T20. Hamish Murray - 78-69-78=225 (+12)
T33. Reed Malleck - 77-74-77=228 (+15)
*T50. Jackson Benge - 77-80-75=232 (+19)
DNP. Rudy Sautron - 74-DQ-68

*competed as an individual outside the Nebraska lineup